Heel-cushion.



No. 799,757. PATBNTED SEPT. 19, 1905.

P. RBIGHARDT. f-

HEEL CUSHION.

APPLIGATIQN FILED AUG` 24, 1904.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 19, 1905.

Application filed August 24, 1904. Serial No. 221,990.

'o all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK REICHARDT, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Heel-Cushions, of which the following is a full, clear, and eX- act description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a heel constructed in accordance with my invention kand showing' the fastening device attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional lview through the heel and the fastening device. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the cushion-'fastening means.

This invention relates to a yielding heel; and the primary object thereof is to provide a heel-cushion which will be capable of preventing jars being communicated to the wearer of the shoe.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for fastening the heel-cushion to the shoe to prevent slipping thereof.

. Another object of the invention is to provide a fastening device which may be attached to and detached from the inner sole of the shoe without altering the construction thereof, so that the cushion can be removed from one shoe and applied to another.

Other objects and advantages, as well as the novel details of construction of this invention, will be specifically described hereinafter, it being understood that changes in form, proportion,- and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Referring now to the drawings by numerals of reference, l designates the cushion-top on which the heel rests, which may be coextensive with the permanent inner sole of the shoe, or it may terminate at a suitable point adjacent to the instep. Beneath the top l are two spaced strips 2 and 3, which comprise coverings for the springs 4 interposed therebetween. These strips or coverings 2 and 3 are preferably constructed of leather-board, although any other suitable material may be substituted therefor, if desired. The bottom spring-cover 3 is provided with a plurality of flanged eyelets 5, under the flanges of which are secured the ends of the springs 4, the opposite ends of the springs resting against the under side of the cover 2. Means is provided for limiting the expansion of the springs. This means is illustrated in Figs. l and 2 as comprising a telescoping eyelet, consisting of the inner member 6 and the outer sleeve member 7 which pass through the bottom cover 3, the cushion-top 1, and the cover 2.

A novel means is provided for securing the removable heel-cushion to the inner sole of the shoe. This means consists of a clasp comprising resiliently-secured hooked fingers 8 and 9, which are arranged adjacent to the opposite edges of the top and are connected to the lower cover of the cushion by the side bars 10 and 11. These fingers 8 and 9 are connected to each other by an intermediate looped bar 12, the intermediate looped portion of which is secured to the cushion by means of an eyelet 13, the curved kinks or bends 14, intermediate the ends of the bar, affording considerable resiliency, so that the fingers or catches 8 and 9 may be sprung apart to engage the edges of the permanent insole of the shoe, and when said fingers or catches are caused to engage the inner edges.

structed that the catches or fingers 8 and 9 are normally contracted, but are eXpansible for the purpose of engagement with the inner permanent insole of the shoe. Inasmuch as these catches may be expanded to a considerable extent, the fastening device may be made of standard size, and it will be capable of permitting the cushion to be attached to shoes of different sizes.-

It will be apparent that owing to the fact that the fingers or catches are formed by bending the wire back upon itself in the form'of loops the attachment of the removable lieel-cushion to the permanent insole can be effected without altering the construction of the shoe and without in any way injuring the shoe.

15 designates fastening devices, illustrated as eyelets, which pass through eyes in the ends of the bars 11 and l2 and through the covers IOO 2 and 3, between which the ends of the arms are interposed. By means of these fastening devices l5 the bars 1l and l2 are secured to the cushion and assist in imparting resiliency to the catches 8 and 9. p

The telescopic eyelet, consisting ofthe members 6 and 7, which fasten the cushion-top and the covers 2 and 3, not only serves the purpose of securing these parts together to limit the expansion of the springs 4, but it also prevents friction on the sock by contact of the sock with the top of the cushion. In other words, by constructing a cushion in accordance with the one described in this application the expansion and contraction of the springs will impart a vertical movement to the top of the cushion, but will prevent any lateral movement which would cause wear upon the heel of the sock.

By reference to Fig. 1 it will be observed that the edges of the top of the cushion eX- tend beyond the ends of the catches 8 and 9 and beyond the edges of the covers 2. and 3, so that the foot ot' the user will be protected against contact with said catches.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to securey by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination with a spring heel-cushion for shoes, of means for detachably securing the cushion to the shoe comprising a fastening device terminally and intermediately connected to the cushion and having normally retracted, laterally-movable expansion-hooks for engagement with the inner sole of the shoe; substantially as described.

2. The combination with aspringheel-cushion for shoes, and means for attaching said cushion to the shoe comprising resilient laterally-movable hook members attached to the cushion and adapted to engage the inner sole of the shoe; substantially as described.

3. A spring heel-cushion for shoes, and oppositely-disposed spring-catches arranged at the opposite longitudinal edges of the cushion; substantially as described.

4. A spring heel-cushion for shoes, oppositely-disposed spring-catches arranged at the opposite longitudinal edges of the cushion, and a cushion-cover, the edges of which extend beyond the outer ends of the catches; substantially as described.

5. A spring heel-cushion for shoes,compris ing top and bottom covers, springs interposed between the covers, a top for the cushion, and a two-part eyelet passing through the covers and the cushion-top at one end of the cushion, and eyelets passing through the covers near the other end ofthe cushion; substantially as described.

6. A springheel-cushion,comprisingsprings, topand bottom covers for the springs, a cushion-top,a fastening device through the top and bottom covers and the cushion-top and having flanged ends for securing the top and bottom cover and cushion-top for reinforcing the same, and means for securing the opposite ends of the covers; substantially as described.

7. A spring heel-cushion, and means carried by the cushion for securing said cushion to the insole of the shoe, said means comprising' laterally movably connected expansible and contracted catches; substantially as described.

ln testimony whereof l hereunto ailx my signature, in the presence of two witnesses, this 22d day of August, 1904.

FRANK REICHARDT.

Witnesses:

B. F. FUNK, GEORGE BAKEWELL. 

